by Diem, J. C.
That fit Clarice Weller’s description. She’d have been furious to hear herself being called a prostitute. I wondered if his father had abused the women he paid for sex, but I could hardly ask Zach his opinion about that.
“I probably shouldn’t have told you that,” Zach said when I remained silent for too long. “I can only imagine what you’re thinking right now.”
“You’re not your Dad, Zach,” I told him firmly. “The only thing you have in common with him is your last name. And the fact that you both like blonds.”
That brought the smile I’d been hoping to see. “I didn’t even realize I preferred blonds until I met you.”
“Me either,” I said and we shared a laugh. He was just as blond as I was. Another stab of guilt hit me because Nathan’s face always hovered at the back of my mind. It was his black hair that I longed to plunge my hands into and his body I wanted to lie beside at night. Zach would never know it, but he was second to a man I loved even more than him. It was also a man I could never have.
We spent a couple of hours wandering through the museum. Giles made an appearance every now and then as he diligently searched for Zach. We avoided him each time and were careful to avert our faces. We looked like a young couple who were in love and blended in with the other people that had come to visit the museum.
When it was finally time for us to leave, we hid in a dim corner behind a display of ancient tools. Zach lifted his shirt over his head and I stepped into his arms before he could take the backpack from me. Filled with desire, I ran my hands over his body. I was careful not to touch his bruises as I memorized the planes of his abdomen, chest and back. He’d put on a bit of bulk and was just as muscular as Nathan now.
His eyes slid half shut and his muscles tightened when I leaned in and placed a kiss on his chest. He put a hand on the back of my neck and I tilted my head back. Our kiss was heated and he pulled me against him. I ran my hands up and down his back, marveling at his gorgeous physique.
I wasn’t sure how long we were making out before something hit me in the back of my head. It didn’t hurt, but it was enough to jolt me out of my daze.
“What’s wrong?” Zach asked when I jerked back. He was just as dazed as I was and his voice was thick with desire.
“I just realized how long I’ve been gone,” I lied. “Sophia will be worried about me.”
Checking his watch, he heaved a sigh. “Giles will be having a fit by now. I’d better let him see me so he can follow me home.” He donned his red shirt and stuffed his hat and black shirt into the backpack. “Text me as often as you can while you’re in Boston,” he said and gave me a final kiss.
Watching him leave, I waited until he was out of sight before I turned around to glare at Sam and Leo. They came out of the shadows and both of them were sniggering. Sam bent to pick up the water bottle that he’d thrown at me. “Did you enjoy yourself?” he asked me brightly.
“I did right up until the moment you bounced that bottle off the back of my head,” I grumbled.
“You are lucky we did not turn a fire hose on you,” Leo said with a hint of disapproval.
“At least Violet was not the one who was having her clothing removed this time,” Sam said with a grin.
Once again, I’d gotten carried away and my friends had stepped in to save the day. “Let’s get out of here,” I said. “Sophia really is going to be worried if we don’t return soon.”
“Imagine how Nathan must feel,” Leo said, making my guilt flare up all over again. I knew it hurt Nathan every time I went out on a date with Zach. Maybe the evil that Sam sensed inside me wasn’t all from the legion. After all, what sort of person could be in love with two different guys at the same time?
₪₪₪
Chapter Thirty-Five
Nathan hid his pain that I was dating Zach behind a wall of resignation. He’d told me a while ago that it was for the best that I see someone else. We couldn’t be together and he didn’t want me to be alone. Sophia’s vision that I was going to die had been a wakeup call. It was doubtful that I’d even live to see my eighteenth birthday, let alone marry Zach and grow old with him.
Taking a seat at the table, I rested my chin on my hands and stared at the wall.
“You do not look happy,” Nathan said.
“I’ve just got a lot on my mind,” I replied. “It’s nearly time for me to find the next portal.” Looking through the kitchen door, I made sure Sam wasn’t in sight. He and Leo had headed upstairs to watch their beloved TV. “Sam’s abilities are fading to the point where he can barely use them. His transformation back into a human is almost complete. Hell is too dangerous for a mortal to visit and he’s lost his rapid healing abilities. I’m not sure it’s a good idea for me to take him with me this time.”
Sophia entered with tea for us both and her expression was grave. Leo was probably listening in to our conversation, but Sam’s hearing was no longer good enough to hear us. “What are your instincts telling you?” she asked.
My response was immediate. “That I can’t do this without him.”
Nathan was sympathetic to my anguish. “That is your answer then. Sam will accompany you until your instincts tell you he is no longer necessary for your survival.”
Neither of them had been to hell and they hadn’t seen the difficulties that I would be facing. It was highly probable that I would fail if I was on my own. I’d needed Sam for every trip that we’d taken to the underworld so far. We still had three more realms to visit. Each one would be larger and more difficult to navigate than the last.
“Samuel is resourceful,” Sophia said. “He managed to survive for over four centuries in that inhospitable place. I am sure you will both return intact.”
Her smile of reassurance slipped and her face went blank. Caught up in a vision, she stared into the distance. I gripped my teacup tightly as I waited for it to be over. Her visions didn’t usually last much longer than thirty seconds and this one was no different.
Nathan had recognized the signs as well. He waited for her to snap out of it before he spoke. “What did you see?”
“The next portal,” she replied. “It is next to an ice skating rink with a large golden statue.”
Leo appeared beside the table with Sam in tow almost before she finished speaking. “I know that skating rink. It is in the Rockefeller Center.”
Now that he’d mentioned it, I remembered the rink as well. “That’s a really public place. It isn’t going to be easy to sneak in without being spotted.”
“I will be able to camouflage us,” Sam said confidently.
I took a sip of tea to stifle the urge to argue with him. His talents were invaluable and I didn’t want him to wear himself out before we even reached the shadowlands.
“With the number of murders that have been committed lately, there will not be many people out at night,” Nathan reminded him. “It might not even be necessary for you to use your abilities.”
“We will see once we scout out the area,” Sophia said, putting an end to the discussion before it could escalate into an argument.
Sam’s expression remained stubborn. He would do whatever he thought was necessary to help me succeed in my mission.
I was glad that we finally knew where the next portal was. My strength was beginning to wane and the toxin was surging forward again. By the time we returned from hell, I would be in bad shape. The moment I left the shadowlands and returned to our dimension, the poison would flood through me again.
Nervous tension began to spread through me as nightfall drew closer. I ate my dinner without paying much attention to what was on my plate. Sam kept darting glances at me as he ate his meal. He was worried that I was going to leave him behind.
When darkness fell, I headed upstairs to retrieve my favorite black jacket. It was my good luck charm and I never went to hell without it. My pockets were full of rune stones, most of which I wouldn’t need during this adventure. I took all but one of them out and put them in the top
drawer of my nightstand. Nathan’s sapphire rune stone and Leo’s angel carving stayed in my pocket. I’d be able to call either of them to me when we returned.
Sensing a presence at my back, I turned to find Nathan standing only inches away. He stared down at me with an expression of such longing that it made my heart ache. Our bond was making it harder for us to deny our feelings for each other. Due to the many infusions of grace that he’d given me, he was a part of me now. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
Sliding his hand behind my neck, he pulled me to him. I went up on my tippy toes and splayed my hands on his chest. He didn’t infuse me with his essence, yet bliss filled me anyway when we kissed.
The moment seemed to last forever until someone pointedly cleared their throat. We broke apart and I looked over Nathan’s shoulder to see Leo watching us. “Are you done?” he asked with exaggerated politeness.
Nathan gave me a look that spoke volumes. If he had it his way, we’d do far more than merely kiss. I loved him, but I wasn’t going to let him destroy his purity just so I could have gratification. “We’re done,” I said and stepped past Nathan. His sigh was wistful as he followed us downstairs.
Sam had a backpack over his shoulder. It would have demon blood and paintbrushes inside. They were the only items we ever bothered to take with us on our journeys.
Leo teleported us a short distance away from the Rockefeller Center. Just as Nathan had said, pedestrians were few and far between as we made the rest of the way on foot. The traffic was as dense as ever. Taxis and cop cars cruised past with monotonous regularity. My friends moved to surround me to hide me from the sight of the police. It was normal for people to move in a crowd these days, so we didn’t stand out.
I’d only seen the Rockefeller Center during the day. At night, it was brightly lit by strategically placed lights. Flags from dozens of different countries formed a border around the ice skating rink. We stopped in the Rockefeller Plaza next to the rink and searched for enemies. Apart from two police officers, the area was deserted. Neither of the men were demons, but that didn’t mean they weren’t a threat.
“It appears to be safe,” Nathan said then turned to Sophia. “Did you see exactly where the portal lies?”
She shook her head. “I only saw that it was somewhere near the gold statue.”
“This way,” Leo said and started walking towards the rink. I glanced up at a building that loomed over us to see a sign proclaiming it to be the Comcast Building. The entrance consisted of a series of rotating doors. A wide glass panel was above the doors with an image that I couldn’t quite make out embossed on it. Above that were three carvings of people. They appeared to be from ancient mythology.
Leo came to a stop at a wall across from the building that overlooked the rink. It was chest high on him. He leaned out and pointed. “Is that the statue from your vision?”
Sophia walked over to him and nodded. “That is the one.”
I joined them and leaned against the wall and looked down. It was summer, so the rink wasn’t in operation right now. The statue below us still drew a crowd during the day. It was a bright and almost gaudy shade of gold. We were seeing the back of it and it looked like it was holding something in its hand. “Who is that meant to be?” I asked.
Nathan answered me. “It is Prometheus. He is carrying fire.”
The statue sat in the middle of a rectangular fountain with water spurting into the air behind it. I only had a vague idea of who Prometheus was. I wasn’t here for a history lesson, so I didn’t ask any questions.
“Do you see the portal?” Sam asked.
The statue had been the clue that had led us here, so I leaned out and looked straight down. Sure enough, I saw a dark opening in the wall directly beneath us. “It’s down there,” I said and gestured at it. He moved to stand beside me and looked down. It was invisible to everyone except me. To him, the wall looked blank.
Nathan and I had already said our goodbyes. Sam and I took turns hugging Sophia, then we turned to Leo expectantly. Neither of the cops had moved from their spot and we didn’t want to draw their attention. He dutifully teleported us to the fountain directly below. The water that was shooting into the air at the back of the fountain soaked us instantly. I gave Leo a brief hug and Sam did the same.
I quickly used the demon blood to paint the rune to unlock the portal and activated it before the water could wash it away. Taking Sam’s hand, I led him through the portal. Since I hadn’t had to unlock an actual physical door this time, there was no need to repeat the rune on the other side.
₪₪₪
Chapter Thirty-Six
Narrow and damp, the cobbled passage stretched ahead of us. Yellow lichen covered the walls and mist swirled around our ankles. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of sulfur that permeated the area.
I stopped after we’d walked a few yards and donned my faux leather jacket. I’d begin to change into my demonic form now. I had to put it on before I became too big for it to fit me. Zipping it up, I looked down at the skull buckles on my chest. Made of brass, they almost seemed to grin up at me slyly. It was almost as though they knew something that I didn’t.
Sam huddled at my side as we made our way along the portal. I looked up to see darkness overhead. It was impossible to tell if the walls ever ended, or if they just went on forever. Eventually, I realized the walls were gone and so were the cobblestones. I never knew the exact moment we left the portal and entered the shadowlands. It was a strange magic that I didn’t fully understand.
Hard packed dirt muffled our footsteps and the mist was now knee high. Six pairs of scarlet eyes appeared in the gloom as my hellhounds materialized. Thanks to my Wraith Warrior, I had an insight to where they went when I didn’t need them. I now understood why the nightmares couldn’t take us with them in the carriage when they disappeared. We weren’t servants that were at the beck and call of powerful demons. We hadn’t been spawned in hell and we wouldn’t be able to survive in the nowhere lands.
Instead of slinking off like they usually did, my alpha dog trotted soundlessly over to me. He pressed against my leg and looked up at me. “What’s wrong?” I asked him. I put my hand on his head to find he was vibrating. He was growling soundlessly at a threat that I was unaware of. The rest of the pack shifted restlessly and glanced into the darkness that surrounded us.
Sam looked around in fear. If the hounds were wary, then we should be terrified. “I do not like this,” he whispered. “Something is wrong.”
An enraged bellow came from somewhere in the gloom and the hairs at the back of my neck stood up. “Call me crazy, but that sounds a lot like a leviathan,” I said.
“It is no wonder your hounds are restless. Not even they are vicious enough to stand up to a leviathan easily.”
“I kind of wish we had some arachnoids handy.” I was only half joking. We’d seen the skeleton of a behemoth that had been devoured by the hideous spiderlike creatures. If we’d been in the shadowlands of my head, I would have been able to conjure them up to protect us.
Sam shuddered and huddled against me again. “Maybe if we are very quiet, it will not be able to find us.”
The hellgates could create illusions from mist that were just as deadly as real creatures. We wouldn’t know if the leviathan was real or not until we encountered it. I had no doubt that we would. It was a foregone conclusion.
My hounds crowded around us as we walked as straight as we could. It was impossible to tell where we were heading without a reference point. My watch stopped working the moment we entered the portal. I was pretty sure compasses wouldn’t work here either.
I calculated that we were halfway to the gate when the ground trembled. Sam clutched my arm and looked around warily. “What was that?” he said in a hoarse whisper.
Coming to a stop, I listened intently. The ground trembled again and it was accompanied by a loud thud. “They’re footsteps,” I told him and realized I was looking down at him. I’d only left Earth hal
f an hour ago and I was already an inch taller than him. I was also far more muscular. My clothing was magically adjusting to fit my new size and physique. I realized that my ruby ring, watch and two bracelets were also increasing in size. The change had been so subtle that I hadn’t even noticed it.
Growls issued from my hounds when another footstep from the leviathan made the ground shake. “I think it’s coming this way,” I whispered to Sam. The footsteps increased in pace until we were clutching each other to try to keep our balance on the shaky ground. Gigantic black legs rather than red appeared in the mist. “It’s an illusion,” I said. That didn’t make it any less dangerous.
My hellhounds spread out in a protective arc and barked at the advancing goliath. The leviathan towered a hundred feet into the air. It was completely black from its cloven hooves to its horned head. Gigantic leathery wings were folded against its back. Snapping them open, it stopped fifty yards away and threw its head back. Its roar of challenge was loud enough to almost shatter my ear drums.
Pushing Sam back, I motioned for him to hide and drew my dagger from my boot. Allow me, Morax said inside my head. I sensed he was itching for a battle and allowed him to take over. Fighting creatures in the arena wasn’t the same as facing them in real life. There was no danger that he would be defeated and be sent back to the first realm of hell now that he was trapped inside me. But I was mortal, which meant I could die and he would go down with me. That was enough to bring his combative nature to the fore.
Transforming the dagger into his beloved double bladed axe, Morax sprinted towards the leviathan. It lifted a hoof to squash us like bugs, but Morax was too fast. He did a diving roll that brought him to the other foot just as the first one landed with a jarring thud. The hoof was too tough to cut through, so he leaped upwards and grabbed hold of the hair on the creature’s calf.
Peering around in confusion, the leviathan was just as stupid as the one we’d defeated during the nine trials the master gate had put us through. My hounds moved in to distract it while Morax wrapped a thick hair around his left arm to anchor himself. He started chopping at the goliath’s Achilles tendon and black blood spurted out of the wound. The leviathan howled in pain and fury and stomped its foot, trying to dislodge us. Morax held on grimly and kept on chopping.